Parametric Investigation of Interaction between Soil-Surface Structure and Twin Tunnel Excavation: A Comprehensive 2D Numerical Study

Abstract

The growing demand for transportation tunnels in densely populated urban areas has led to the widespread adoption of twin tunnel configurations in contemporary infrastructure projects. This research focuses on investigating the complex interaction between soil, structures, and the excavation of twin tunnels. The study employs the tunnel boring machine (TBM) method and utilizes two-dimensional numerical modeling based on the finite element method (FEM). The numerical model is validated by comparing its results with field measurements obtained from a twin tunnel project in Italy, specifically the New Milan Metro Line 5. A comprehensive parametric study is conducted to analyze various parameters that influence soil–structure interaction during tunnel excavation. These parameters include the positioning of the tunnels in relation to each other, the spacing between them, the presence of structures above the tunnels, eccentricity between the structure axis and tunnel axis, and tunnel depth and diameter. Moreover, a comparative analysis is performed between scenarios with and without structures to elucidate the impact of structure presence on the interaction phenomenon. The research findings provide valuable insights into the intricate behavior of twin tunnels and their interaction with the surrounding soil and structures.